Developing a quick-start guide to aid older adults in interacting with gesture-based video games

Interactive gesture-based video games, or exergames, provide an option for leisure and rehabilitative user engagement. For older adults, these games present a method of engaging in physical activity in the home, providing benefits such as increased physical movement and social interaction, and alleviating barriers of facility access and transportation that often inhibit an individual's ability to exercise. Despite these benefits, many older adults perceive exergames as challenging, suggesting the need for instructional support for them to successfully use these systems. We followed a design process wherein we leveraged user research to identify design criteria, and then developed a paper-based quick-start guide to aid older adults in performing gestures associated with exergames played on the Xbox 360 with Kinect. Our prototype quick-start guide provides information on getting started, troubleshooting tips, and common gestures depicted through images, diagrams, and text. We discuss the evaluation of various formats of this guide as part of the iterative process to identify a quick-start guide most helpful in supporting gesture performance.